The chiefs, traditional leaders, and youth of Issa and Kojokperi in the Daffiama–Bussie–Issa (DBI) District of the Upper West Region have petitioned the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) over what they describe as an unlawful plan to relocate a Ghana Education Service (GES) district office complex and bungalow from Issa, the district capital, to Daffiama.

The petition, dated March 11, 2026, was submitted to the DBI District Assembly for onward transmission to the RCC and copied to key authorities, including the President, the Upper West Regional Minister, the GETFund Administrator, and the Member of Parliament for the area.

In the petition, the chiefs, traditional leaders, and residents of Issa and Kajokperi expressed strong opposition to the reported decision, which they claim diverts a project originally designated for Issa to another location within the district.

According to the Council, the move violates provisions of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), which stipulates that administrative offices critical to decentralisation should be located at the district capital to ensure effective coordination, monitoring, and service delivery.

Naa Yelekuang Bawele II, Paramount Chief of Issa Traditional Council, who signed the petition and read by his secretary, Naa Bismark Bietuary, stated that the tender documents publicly advertised for the project clearly specified Issa as the project site, noting that Issa has been the official district capital since 2012 and has served as an administrative centre since 1983.

He argues that the alleged relocation of the project not only undermines established policies but also risks creating unnecessary tension between the communities of Issa and Daffiama, which they describe as having coexisted peacefully for decades.

“The abrupt and unjustified redirection of resources is not only illegal but also appears to be a deliberate attempt to incite conflict between Issa and Daffiama,” he stated.

The Traditional Council also raised concerns about the practical implications of siting the GES office outside the district capital, indicating that officials already incur significant travel costs and time commuting between Daffiama and Issa for official meetings.

Naa Yelekuang Bawele II recalled previous efforts to relocate the district education office to Issa, including an initiative led by a former District Chief Executive, Sanda Imoru, which aimed to ensure equitable development within the district.

As part of their demands, the Council is calling on the authorities to immediately reverse the decision and honour the original tender advertisement that designated Issa as the project location.

They also demand answers to several questions, including whether adequate stakeholder consultations were conducted prior to the reported change, whether the contract was re-advertised as required under the Public Procurement Act, and whether the contractor originally bid for the project with Issa or Daffiama as the stated site.

In the meantime, Naa Yelekuang Bawele II, requested that the contractor refrain from reporting to the project site until the issues raised in the petition are addressed and due processes are followed.

He warned that failure by authorities to respond to their concerns could lead to lawful protests to defend what they describe as the rightful development interests of Issa and the surrounding communities.

The Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has yet to publicly respond to the petition as of the time of filing this report.

Story by Ibrahim Abubakari Wangara